Here’s some of what’s going around. If you want this type of intel first, sign up for the Ashvegas newsletter.

New downtown hotel? The old Merita bread building at 188 Patton Ave. in downtown Asheville recently sold for $375,000 to hotel operator Shalin Patel. If the the site become home to a new hotel, it would be at least the fifth new downtown hotel being planned. The first one likely to be built will be on Haywood Street, on the location of the former Three Brothers restaurant.

Big birthday bash The Billy Graham Evangelical Association recently announced what sounds like the social event of the year – a big birthday party for the world-famous Rev. Billy Graham in Asheville, with some 600 to 700 invited guests. Invitations have gone out to a host of dignitaries, including former President Bill Clinton and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. I’m tracking down more detail on the party. If anyone has details to share, please let me know. The event will be held Nov. 7, which is Graham’s birthday. He will be 95.

Predictions for winter 2013: Warmer than normal

Two predictions for winter weather in Western North Carolina call for warmer than normal temps. Ray over at Ray’s Weather predicts Asheville will get 13 inches of snow this winter, a warmer than normal season. And the winning woolly worm at the annual Woolly Worm Festival was all brown, which signifies a warm winter, the High County Press reports.

Suds newsBurial Beer: Ben’s Tune Up will host Burial Beer Co. for a tap takeover on Oct. 30. Burial Beer Co. will be pouring several beers and releasing its special seasonal beer, Slasher Sweet Potato Porter. This full bodied porter is brewed with honey-roasted sweet potatoes, Jamaican yams and brown sugar. You can also expect their Reaper Oak Aged Tripel and Drawknife Dubbel, among others. This is Burial Beer Co.’s first event outside of their taproom since opening in June and is a great opportunity to try their brews. There’s a costume contest, too. Ben’s Tune Up and Burial Beer Co. will be giving away gift certificates to the best costume of the night.

Cold Mountain: Mark the date for the release of the 2013 edition of Highland Brewing’s popular Cold Mountain. It’s 4-8p.m. on Nov. 14 at Highland’s tasting room.

Asheville Growler: The new growler-filling station, which has been waiting for state regulations to be approved, can officially start filling growlers on Oct 25th. A grand opening party is set for Saturday, Nov. 2.

Catawba Valley Brewing: There’s not much work happening at the site of Catawba Valley’s planned new brewery near Biltmore Village just south of downtown Asheville. Earlier this year, the brewery’s owner said he hoped to be open by the end of 2013.

CiderUrban Orchard: The new cidery in East-West Asheville has set its opening date for Oct. 30. Lots of folks are excited about this crew, which has a great tasting room coming together right across the street from Short Street Cakes.

The Asheville nonprofit Food Connection is partnering with Wicked Weed Brewing and its Cultura restaurant, the YMCA of Western North Carolina, and Red Wing Enterprises for the event aimed at helping service industry workers.

One of the biggest immediate impacts has been the release of about 200 people from the Buncombe County jail, a long-sought after goal by some local officials who want to convert the county jail from a holding pen for low-level, nonviolent, poor suspects to a lockup reserved for serious offenders.